DAVID SOARES

Position: District Attorney

P. David Soares was elected Albany County District Attorney on November 2, 2004 and re-elected to a second term on November 4, 2008.

At an early age, David’s parents instilled in him the value of family, education, hard work, and active participation within a strong community. Although David grew up in a rough neighborhood, loving friends and a strong community surrounded him. Neighbors kept an eye on one another’s children and were quick to lend a hand. This upbringing encouraged David to believe in the goodness and potential of all people if given the proper guidance. His parents’ emphasis on education provided a solid motivation for David’s future goals in life.

Having handled thousands of cases in Albany County City Courts as an Assistant District Attorney, David witnessed the failings of the criminal justices system first hand. In 2004, David sought office to ensure Justice for Albany County residents and on January, 1 2005, David realized his goal of becoming Albany County District Attorney. Since taking office, David has continued to devote his energy to bringing “One Standard of Justice” to Albany County. He remains committed to leading an office that is Tough on Crime and Smart on Prevention by:

• Reducing street violence through creative, non-traditional means;
• Building hope for the people of Albany County by restoring communities;
• Dealing with the crisis of re-entry; and
• Emphasizing prevention over prosecution.

David’s commitment to labor and community justice were developed at a young age. On October 26, 1969, P. David Soares was born in Brava, Cape Verde, an island off the coast of West Africa. He is the youngest of five children born to Lucas and Lidia Soares. When David was six years old, his family moved to the United States and settled in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where his father found a vocation as a carpenter, and his mother worked at the local mill.
David witnessed the struggles of his parents as they did their best to provide for their family. His fathers union – Local 1196 IBEW – was instrumental in ensuring their family received a fair wage for the labor Lucas Soares provided as a mill worker. David has continued to support and honor the work of union labor by unionizing the investigators in his office to ensure they were being fairly compensated for their hard work and by prosecuting individuals who attempt to cheat workers out of payments they rightfully deserve.

The work ethic instilled in David by his parents became the foundation of his career. David worked his way through Cornell University, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications. After Cornell, David attended Albany Law School and received his law degree in 1999. As he had at Cornell University, David worked his way through Albany Law School working at the Albany Airport Authority, Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, AIDS Law Clinic and the Albany County District Attorney’s Office. He also interned at the District Attorney’s Office, where he eventually became an Assistant District Attorney and Albany County’s first Community Prosecutor.

David is a proud father and remains active in his community as a mentor by teaching “Legal Lives” in the Albany Public Schools and as a board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Albany.